Christmas time is here

Christmas is drawing near and my sister asked me in an email how's our Christmas like in Australia. I replied that it's as usual, visiting friends who had invited us to their house, giving presents and children receiving/opening presents. When I had a chance to give it deeper thoughts later, I realised that I hadn't painted her the whole picture.

Sure, it is universal that during Christmas season, the shopping centers (and even some houses) are gaily decorated - Christmas trees, glittering lights, artificial snow flake cutouts and inflatable Santa Clauses. The tradition of presents (or pressies as they call it here) giving helps the toy departments generate their highest sales of the year and keeps the cash register merrily ringing. One can't help but get rolled into the festive mood as year-end party invitations roll in. But as far as Australia's concerned, that's where all the similarity ends.

Despite our four seasons, we are on the wrong side of the equator. So banish any childhood illusions about a snow-filled white winter wonderland and forget any fantasies about singing christmas carols by a warm fireplace or making Frosty the snowman outside your house. I just realised that all our favourite christmas carols ("I'm dreaming of a white christmas...", "In the meadow we can build a snowman...") were created for the people in the Northern Hemisphere and not very suitable down south. Even Santa Claus. The big old man would be suffering heat stroke in his thick beard and fur-lined red suit here. His reindeer is better off replaced with a Toyota 4-wheel drive and a trailer instead of sleigh.


Instead of arriving our hosts' houses in winter boots and wrapped in scarves, people will most likely wear slippers and bring chilled beers. Roast turkey and Christmas ham still feature popularly in the menus but it is more likely that people will do an outdoor BBQ, with sizzling sausages and a cold salad. The Aussies slap on the SPF 30+ sunblocks and head to the beaches and parks during this time of the year for picnics, BBQs and sun tanning.


Since I come from tropical Singapore, I hadn't noticed much difference between my past Christmases and now. But I wonder for people who had come to live in Australia from the northern parts of the world, how would they feel about the absolute difference in Christmas temperature and scenary. Is their Christmas mood affected in any way?


Despite all these, the Aussies for a fact enjoy their Christmas anyway. There might be a total fire ban, it's stinkin hot and there're lots of flies. But who cares. It's the end of the year, school summer holidays has started and what better excuse to have a good time with family and friends. The Aussies have a great sense of humour and to end off, I'll like to share a Fair Dinkum Aussie Christmas song by Bucko & Champs. It's rewritten to the tune of the Australian anthem. For those who know the tune, try singing it.

Australians Let Us Barbecue

Australians let us barbeque for Christmas time is here

A time to stop and rest a bit, and psych up for New Year

On patterned plastic tablecloth we'll eat our pudding up

And drink a Christmas cordial in polystyrene cup

Australians let us barbeque for Christmas time is here

The time we sing that silly song 'Pa Ruppa Pum Pum Pum'

We'll fa la la and ho ho ho, and all that Christmas stuff

We'll crack a gag with Pop and Gran, and chuckle our heads off

Australians let us go for broke in backyards great and small

With Christmas gifts and outdoor chairs, with cricket bat and ball

We'll pass the salad dressing round, we'll eat potato chips

And compliment the hostess on a great French onion dip

With sausages and coleslaw too, then let us barbeque

To all my readers, have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year!